"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Toni Fescina was kidnapped by one of Sgt. Fitzsimmons' (Frank Sutton) goons.

1973: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) felt guilty about agreeing to put Cathy Ryker back on staff.

1973: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) begged Mary (Virginia Dwyer) and Jim (Hugh Marlowe) not to take Alice's things away as it would remove the last traces of her presence in his house. Over dinner, Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) told Eliot (James Douglas) she was no longer in love with Steve and that he never really cared about her.

1980: On As the World Turns, the residents of Oakdale found out about the fire at the Wade Bookstore.

1981: On Guiding Light, after passing out in the courtroom, Amanda (Kathleen Cullen) lost her baby. She needed a blood transfusion from Jennifer (Geraldine Court) in order to survive.

1985: On Santa Barbara, a tied up Eden Capwell (Marcy Walker) fell off a cliff after a struggle with Peter Flint (Stephen Meadows).

1986: On Dynasty, Krystle Carrington had a vicious fight with Rita, her look-a-like. Linda Evans fights with herself in the clip below:

1986: On General Hospital, Frisco Jones (Jack Wagner) spotted Russell at the Bucket of Blood but Russell knocked Frisco down and took off just as Ted Holmes (David Doyle) arrived.

1993: Alison Sweeney debuted as Sami Brady on Days of our Lives.

2008: Actor Heath Ledger died at age 28. He starred in Australian soap opera Home and Away early in his career playing Scott Irwin. He also starred as gay cyclist Snowy Bowles in Sweat.

2010: Longtime All My Children star James Mitchell died at age 89. He joined the cast of AMC in 1979 as Palmer Cortlandt.